The National Union of Journalists has urged magistrates to throw out criminal charges against a freelance photographer who was arrested for trying to take photographs of armed police.
Alan Lodge was charged last month with 'obstructing an officer' after he asserted his rights to photograph their actions in a public area of Nottingham city centre.
Despite insisting at the time he was not committing an offence, police confiscated his camera and mobile phone, making the freelance unable to work.
Such a heavy-handed approach flies in the face of protocol drawn up just one year ago, designed to improve relations between the City’s police and local press.
Ironically, Mr Lodge is reported to be one of Nottingham’s NUJ committee members who helped initiate the guidelines so authorities are more aware of the media's rights and responsibilities.
Obtained by Press Gazette, guideline number seven states, "Police officers do not have the authority to prevent a person taking a photograph or to confiscate cameras or film, and such conduct could result in criminal, civil or disciplinary action."
Since the freelancer's arrest the guidelines have come under fire from the NUJ, which says the code of conduct for police is meaningless if it is ignored by frontline officers.
"Police guidelines on how to handle the media are no good on paper if officers break them out on the streets," said Jeremy Dear, general secretary.
"This case has enormous repercussions and is vital for the exercise of press freedom. Alan had a perfect right to photograph in a public place a matter of clear public interest. If the court takes away that right then all of us will suffer as it will have a chilling effect on the exercise of press freedom."
Kevin Stanley, president of Nottingham NUJ’s branch, reportedly said the aim of the guidelines is to educate police that journalists have 'a job to do' and that their purpose is not to distract, but to report.
He added, "This incident makes a mockery of the guidelines that the chief constable signed up to at the beginning of the year."
May 3, 2006
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